AutoTrader SCORE
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STYLING7/10
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Safety7/10
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PRACTICALITY8/10
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USER-FRIENDLINESS9/10
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FEATURES9/10
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POWER7/10
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COMFORT8/10
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DRIVING FEEL8/10
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FUEL ECONOMY7/10
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VALUE8/10
Most minivan reviews suggest these family haulers are superior in that capacity to three-row SUVs.
While the intention here isn’t necessarily to go against that sentiment, it’s important to note that not all minivans are created equal. After welcoming my first child to the world and with extended family in town, I decided to test the 2024 Kia Carnival to see how it fares when faced with plenty of people and their stuff.
Styling: 7/10
The Kia Carnival isn’t a looker, but unlike other entries on the market it masks its minivan styling reasonably well. Unlike the Chrysler Pacifica or Honda Odyssey, for example, the Carnival has a pronounced snout that gives it a boxy look compared to its egg-shaped rivals. The contrast finish for its pillars also provide a more prominent side profile. However, the front and rear of the vehicle look like the same old stuff, which is a shame considering how modern other models in Kia’s lineup look.
The cabin features a sensible design with a few flourishes. The dash has a shimmering textured trim, and this tester’s seats were wrapped in leather upholstery. This being a family vehicle, there are some easy-to-clean hard plastics throughout the cabin.
Safety: 7/10
Of the four minivans on the market, the Carnival is the only one that did not earn an award from the not-for-profit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Both the Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna are Top Safety Pick+ winners, while the Pacifica gets the slightly lesser Top Safety Pick designation this year.
The Carnival was also a Top Safety Pick in the previous two years, but its performance in updated front and side crash-testing resulted in the loss of the award for 2024. The IIHS also reported poor headlight performance for all but top trim, and found the child seat anchors and seat belt reminders were only “Acceptable” instead of “Good.” (For what it’s worth, our family’s rear-facing baby seat was easy to latch in place in both rear rows.)
Regardless of those results, there are plenty of features to help prevent crashes, including lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, parking sensors, and more. However, many of these features are found in the EX trim and above.
Features: 9/10
The range-topping SX trim comes with the usual creature comforts like three-zone climate control, heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and matching driver display. While some of those features are scattered throughout the rest of the lineup, the base LX trim is fairly barren. Features like heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, for instance, are reserved for the LX+ trim.
The EX+ and SX trims come with family-friendly extras like an interior camera for monitoring what’s happening in the second- and third-row seats. There’s also a novel system that amplifies the driver’s voice through the interior speakers – handy for getting the attention of little ones in the back, or talking over loud family chatter. Another neat feature is “quiet mode,” which turns off the rear speakers so rear-seat occupants can snooze in relative silence while the folks in the front can continue to enjoy the stereo.
User-Friendliness: 9/10
Using these features through the infotainment system is painless. I didn’t experience any significant slowdowns or bugs through the 12.3-inch touchscreen, switching between the infotainment and Android Auto interfaces frequently. The conventional climate controls are also easy to use, while there are physical dials for volume and media tuning, too.
Practicality: 8/10
The second-row seats in the Carnival’s top trim can slide back and recline into a lounge position complete with leg rests. However, extending them that far makes the third-row bench obsolete. They also make accessing the third row a nuisance, while their added functionality means they can’t be folded or removed to carry more cargo.
There’s 1,139 L of space behind the third row, with a deep well that’s good for grocery bags but was a bit awkward when storing a full-size stroller. The third row is easy to stow in that well in the floor, and doing so practically doubles the cargo room to 2,460 L of space. If you opt for a lower trim model with a more traditional second row, you can enjoy the incredible 4,110 L of storage space with those seats folded.
Comfort: 8/10
Besides the awkward entry into the third row, the Carnival delivers on its premise of ferrying a family around in comfort. By sliding the second-row seats as far as possible, the third row has plenty of legroom, although the seat bottoms are a bit close to the floor, which leads to a strange seating position.
Power: 7.5/10
Motivating the Carnival is a 3.5L V6 engine with 290 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels. The latter point is important as the Chrysler Pacifica and Toyota Sienna both offer all-wheel drive configurations. The Chrysler is also available as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), while the Toyota features a conventional hybrid powertrain that’s standard.
The Carnival’s power delivery is fine, although the motor doesn’t sound particularly engaging. While you won’t win many drag races, this family hauler won’t let you down when you’re in a rush for an appointment or play date.
Driving Feel: 8/10
Thankfully, the Kia Carnival feels good on the road, especially compared to some three-row SUVs. While those feature more ground clearance for rugged appeal, the Carnival makes no such compromises and feels more like a large sedan on the road. Steering response is good, and the vehicle feels stable and steady under braking. There’s also impressive overall manoeuvrability compared to most three-row SUVs, especially in tight parking spots or on narrow roads.
Fuel Economy: 7/10
The Kia Carnival is rated to return 12.1 L/100 km in city driving conditions, 9.0 on the highway, and 10.7 in combined settings. I found that combined figure difficult to achieve, but possible with careful driving habits. The fuel usage is about on par with other gas-powered, front-wheel-drive minivans but understandably much worse than hybrid-powered alternatives. The Carnival burns less gas than the Kia Telluride three-row SUV, which also uses a V6 engine with similar output but gets standard all-wheel drive.
Value: 8/10
The entry-level 2024 Kia Carnival LX starts at $40,144; however, it lacks a lot in terms of appealing features. Consider the mid-trim EX model, which is $47,644 and includes more safety technology and driver assistance features. The range-topping SX trim, with its lounge seats, large screens, and leather seats costs $53,644, which is about on par with an entry-level Kia Telluride EX.
The Verdict
The needs of families differ from one to the next, but in my experience a minivan consistently delivers more of what matters. The 2024 Kia Carnival has tons of space, plenty of handy features, is comfortable and easy to drive, and is reasonably priced. Those cool lounge seats impact the accessibility of the third row and limit total cargo room, but it may be a worthwhile trade-off considering all that’s offered here.
| Engine Displacement | 3.5L |
|---|---|
| Engine Cylinders | V6 |
| Peak Horsepower | 290 hp |
| Peak Torque | 262 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | 12.1 / 9.0 / 10.7 L/100 km cty/hwy/cmb |
| Cargo Space | 1,139 / 2,460 / 4,110 L behind 3rd/2nd/1st row |
| Model Tested | 2024 Kia Carnival SX |
| Base Price | $50,995 |
| A/C Tax | $100 |
| Destination Fee | $2,649 |
| Price as Tested | $53,994 |
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Optional Equipment
$250 – Ghost Grey, $250
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